High Tide, Green Grass - The Rolling Stones

'Cold' was my first reaction to the weather this morning, and while it was still beautifully sunny the day was to get colder. With just a single Great Spotted Woodpecker 'calling' in the cemetery I quickly crossed the bye-pass onto Radipole where exposed just a little more to the south easterly breeze things did feel much more chilly. With water levels far too high for anything else but a Mute Swan there was precious little to see here, so with the songs of a few Chiffchaff ringing in my ears I made for the sea front. In the full face of what was close to an icy blast I continued to Greenhill where once again Lesley Godfrey was waiting to be shown even more of our local delights, starting with Lodmoor.

Coincidentally, we immediately met up with Daragh Croxson who alerted us to the presence of a Little Ringed Plover (above), the Long-billed Dowitcher and a recently arrived Spoonbill.

With such a haul already in the log, we continued to find our own pair of Greylag Geese at great distance, but just about everything else was reasonable close, a great advantage particularly to Lesley.

This white (Campbell) 'call' duck, formally used to encourage wild birds into a decoy either to be ringed or in bygone days for the 'pot', was snuggling up to this 'wild' male Mallard and may breed. There are quite a number of these escaped, or simply dumped wildfowl on our reserves, by pet owners who get fed up with them, which in my view don't do the wild population any favours. There are a 'gang' of mutant Khaki Campbell's at Radipole that murder wild birds, while the weakening of the strain by inter-breeding has to be detrimental as well. Put to the RSPB, their logic is "the public like them" so they are left roaming loose. But if the experts of the RSPB say it's alright, then it must be?

Otherwise, this male Gadwall,

Grey Heron,

Shelduck,

Blackthorn Blossom and

Magpie were all close enough to make for fine photographs. Also on the Moor we recorded Wheatears, Chiffchaffs, a Curlew and a Stoat.

On our way back from Portland yesterday, Lesley and I had noted the extremely 'low tide' and so today decided to investigate this at close quarters. Crossing to the Preston Beach we immediately clapped eyes on a waterfowl very close to the shore, while through the binoculars I could see it was a 'Diver' of sorts. Most unusual for these birds to venture close inshore this could indeed be the photo call of the week, but firstly there was the matter of identifying it!

Red-throated Diver

It was also 'snorkeling' from time to time, and close inspection of this image can see its bill under water.

On our way to view the low tide Lesley and I had chance to learn a little more about each other, as yesterday was more about our children, her husband and his work today we turned attentions to what we do and enjoy. I think she already had a full picture of what I am about, so we talked about her business as a professional photographer. There was little doubt about her talent even by viewing at her images on the camera screen, but little did I realise what eminent company I was keeping. Invited to view here web-site, there simply wasn't the time last night but to be presented with just a small example from her full portfolio, my simple reaction was WOW!!!!

Just a single page from her promotional booklet had me rocking in may seat as I gazed at such luminaries as The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rick Wakeman of rock band Yes, Cherie & Tony Blair, Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees et al all of whom have endorsed her greater catalogue and signed her own personal 'coffee table' version of her work - WOW again!

I know how many of our readers are interested in Maritime Movements hereabouts, especially shipping that has had close ties with Portland particularly. So here is a copy of an e-mail sent to me by an ardent reader Janet Read.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Bayleaf will sail into Portland Port for the last time on Wednesday. The tanker, which has travelled the world for 29 years keeping Royal Naval ships supplied with fuel, will retire after its final voyage on Saturday.

RFA Bayleaf is being laid-up under Ministry of Defence savings. The ship has been acting as the Arabian Gulf tanker for 12 years, in support of the Royal Navy and coalition warships in the Middle East. It has supported UK and coalition warships through the Falklands conflict and both Gulf wars, and during humanitarian operations. RFA Bayleaf, the third ship to bear the name, has sailed 1.4 million miles supporting ships worldwide, conducting over 5,000 refuels. "She has a long and proud service history and we, the final crew, are honoured to be a part of her story," said a spokesman.

Built at Cammell Laird Yard, Birkenhead, it was launched as RFA Bayleaf in October 1981 and entered service in 1982. RFA Bayleaf's final voyage will be from Portland to Devonport on Saturday.

Through the murk that was Portland Harbour this afternoon, a tanker thought to be RFA Bayleaf lay at the Outer Coaling Pier awaiting her final passage on Saturday. We salute all involved in her design, construction etc and especially 'All Who Sailed In Her'.

These Speedwell flowers with an unidentified purple species were on the grass verge at Ferrybridge, and

we found c2 'live' Winkles' on the Fleet side of the fore-shore. Insignificant, maybe, but its been many a day since I've seen them here, their usual habitat is on the harbour side.

Still a little while before the end of the 'ebb', we decided to visit Angela Thomas and Colin Ousley at the Fleet Visitor's Centre where we were (as usual) made very welcome and enjoyed a cup of tea - Thank You both.

While there we chatted to 4 young people from the Weymoth College at Cranford Avenue who were busily making a video documentary about the development of a Barnes Wallace invention, the Bouncing Bomb. The Fleet was used quite extensively in it development, many being dropped along its course. As youngsters we would occasionally go to Langton Herring to see those that had been left there from the trial, but later they were carted off to the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon. It was great to meet these people as well.

The tide now right back, this was the view from the Centre.

The 'spit' of sand uncovered between the black hut and the bait digger is rarely exposed at low tide, and probably the most exposure I have seen here.

That also goes for the one that runs from the Oyster Beds, and today almost uncovered to the east wall.

Over on the Portland Harbour side (looking south to the Island) you could almost walk to the small craft moorings.

While looking north it's doubtful I've ever seen the tide so far out. Yesterday, the ribs that operate from the Fleet side of the Ferrybridge pub were grounded for a time complete with the 'divers' they had taken out for the day.

Lesley was also very interested in Sandsfoot Castle, one of Henry the Eighths coastal defences, so here's a picture for you.

Finally, as we made for the bus, and home, this male Red-breasted Merganser also past close inshore to a volley of camera clicking.

The Sun Is Shining The Weather Is Sweet, Yeah, Makes You Want To Move Your Dancing Feet - Finlay Quaye

Another sparkling spring like day, weather wise there was nothing to mar the day. Unfortunately in the cemetery the birds probably weren't feeling the same as there was little, or in the case of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, no action at all, so it was straight on to Radipole were

Greenfinch were the most prominent of an extremely low count of species, every reason then to hurry on to Portland. Alighting the bus at Barleycrates it soon became obvious that a small passage of

Meadow Pipits was underway, while a little further on and at the other end of the scale, a tardy

Fieldfare was still hanging around, sounding as if trying to attract a mate.

A 'first' for the year was this Small White butterfly, while before reaching the cliff

a pair of Stonechat put in an appearance. It was soon after this that I met up with long standing friend Colin Robertson, and soon after leaving his company encountered

this lady, Lesley Godfrey, welding an impressive looking Canon camera and lens. Striking up a conversation she told me she was enjoying a few days on her own in Dorset, while husband Simon had been packed off to work. An idea opportunity to show someone round 'gods little acre' we walked on together enjoying

c2 Common Buzzards being hassled by Herring Gulls,

a close encounter with this Skylark

and half an hour watching the Auks (Guillemot & Razorbill) on the cliff ledges.

Along the way we found 2 Snail species, and knowing that Snail & Slug expert John Fleming was in residence at the Observatory took them along for his opinion. Turns out that this spiral shelled creature goes under a Latin name only, Cochlicella acuta while the others identity will have to lie in abeyance. Having given Lesley the 'Cooks Tour' of the Bird Observatory we wandered back towards Weymouth via the East Cliff only to come across this

Grey Seal, at first totally submerged,

but coming up briefly for air before disappearing out of sight!

Finally, this Cormorant did a fly past before we enjoyed a Jameson's Whisky or two before parting company. A great day Lesley and maybe I'll get to meet Simon on Friday evening?

Like A Virgin - Madonna

First today let me welcome the latest addition, at country number 132, to the readership US Virgin Island. A group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.

The US Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, along with the much smaller but historically distinct Water Island, and many other surrounding minor islands. The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.4 km2).

Welcome people and TELL YOUR FRIENDS - Thank You!

Second, back to yesterday's mystery Aythya duck, and after some deliberation by Paul Harris and a final decision by Brett Spencer the bird is considered a 'first winter' female Greater Scaup. Thanks to both Paul & Brett plus Martin Cade and John Lucas for giving it the once over via a camera image (not ideal).

Now to get on to today, which weather wise was 'sparkling' with just a gentle, but still chilly, wind from the south, for the best part sunny and white fluffy clouds in a cluster hanging on the breeze to dry!

In the cemetery things were much the same as yesterday with c3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers still extremely vocal and knocking hell out of the trees, the only difference being a sharp increase in the number of Chaffinch. There was also a GS Woodpecker at Radipole along with c4 Sand Martin, a good number of Chiffchaff (several vocal) and a single

Common Gull

The walk to Lodmoor was rewarded by singles of Mute Swan and Great Northern Diver in Weymouth Bay plus c4 Great Crested Grebes and this

Heavy Lift Vessel, one of 3 that were in the area. My guess is that they are associated with the upcoming wind farm to be built off the Purbeck coast, but I'll need to find out more.

On the Moor itself there were c2 Wheatear

c12 Black-tailed Godwit in a cross section of plumage's, ranging from full summer to winter a really nice sight to see.

In addition the Water Pipit, still sporting winter plumage, was still there as was the Long-billed Dowitcher and something I haven't seen since the cold snap,

a 'pair' of Wigeon (male foreground). Another more determined look into the Bay produced a further c7 Great Northern Divers and c3 Great Crested Grebes and a single Guillemot, but it was now time to transfer to the Bill.

There were an additional c3 Wheatear in the first field off of Sweethill and in short time I was looking at my first Swallow of the year flying purposefully along the West Cliff. All else amounted to another

Firecrest, this time a female, caught at the Observatory where the warden kindly allowed me to release it. To have this tiny gem in the palm of my hand, albeit for just a few seconds was, as far as I'm concerned, just about as good as experiencing wildlife gets - roll on tomorrow for some more!

Finally, this afternoon's choice of music has been 'Thank Christ For The Bomb' the 3rd offering from British Blues legends Groundhogs. Capably fronted by the timeless Tony TS McPhee (lead Guitar and Vocals), ably assisted by drummer Ken Pustelnik and bassist Pete Cruickshank this album leaves many would be British Blues outfits in the dark. I met up with Tony again in Finn's not so long ago and despite the years and fame he remains the down to earth individual we all knew in the early 60's. It goes without saying that you will all rush out and buy this album immediately (you won't regret it), but just as a taster I'll leave you with the lyrics of:-

Garden

My garden is all overgrown
and the weeds are creeping up on my home,
Grass has grown over two foot high
and the trees are blocking out the sky.
French windows won't open any more
from the moss that's grown outside the door,
A hundred birds are nesting in the trees,
looks like a wild-life sanctuary.

BREAK

But I'm not going to cut a single blade of grass,
my garden will look just like the distant past,
Before the days of agricultural land,
before the time when pebbles turned to sand.
When I leave this house I'm going to stay,
I'm forsaking my comforts to live another way,
Get my clothes from heaps, my food from bins,
my water from ponds and have tramps for my friends.

and so I say Thank Christ for the Bomb!